Mold for forming cement blocks.



PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

G. B. BLODGBTT.-

MOLD FOR FORMING CEMENT BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11, 1906.

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PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

G. B. BLODGETT. MOLD FOR FORMING CEMENT BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11, 1906.

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i NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed October l1l 1906. Serial No. 338.441.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE B. BLODGETT, a citizen of the United Sta'tes, residing at Fredonia, in the county of Chautauqua, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Molds for Forming Cement BFocks, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in molds for shaping materials of various character, but more especially to molds for use in the manufacture of concrete blocks commonly used in place of stone, brick `and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a mold of the character referred to which may be readily opened or closed.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for opening and closing the mold which shall be self-locking when in closed position.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide an improved follow board and core for use in molds for shaping of blocks.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully described. 4

ln the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, the same serving in connection with the description herein, to illustrate the principle thereof.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved mold in its closed position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same in an opened position,

showing the cement block formed thereby.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of my im roved mold, showing in dotted lines, the position of the side frames when the mold is open. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of one of the side frames. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the follow board and the cores carried thereby. `Fig.'6 is a top plan view of a modified form of my invention. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of one end of my modiiied form of mold, taken on the line 7, 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an end view of one of the cores, showing the handle for withdrawing the same.

In the drawings, the follow board 1, as shown in Fig. 5, has secured thereto cores 2, 2, said cores being tapered from the follow board toward the up er end as clearly shown in said figure. l/Vhi e it is usually desired to secure these cores to the follow board, so

that they are held in properV position and kept from sliding, it is obvious that said cores may be loosely mounted on said follow board and any suitable means may be provided for drawing the cores from the finished block.

My mold is composed of side members 3, 3,.

and end members 4, 4. In the present embodiment of my invention, the side members are connected to the end members 4, 4 by links 5, 5. Said links 5, 5 are pivoted to a bracket 6 at one ond wlnch is firmly secured to the end members of my mold. The links 5, 5 are pivotally connected at their opposite ends to brackets 7, 7 carried by the side members 3, 3. The axis of the pivotal connection between the links 5, 5 and the side and end members is vertical so that when the end member is moved from a position shown in FiO'. 1 to a position shown in Fig. 2, the links 5, 5 cause the end members of 'my mold to move outward in opposite directions. As a means for moving the end members outward and inward, I have shown in my preferred form, a shaft 8 which is provided between its outer ends with a deflected portion 9, 9 forming a crank arm. Said shaft is mounted in bearings 10, 10 carried by the side members. Said bearing 10, in the present instance is shown as formed from an eye 'in which the shaft is supported and said eye is provided with a shank which passes through an opening 11 in the side frame and has threaded thereon a nut 12, and also a locking nut 13. It will be apparent however, that any other form of bearing for the shaft may be substituted for that herein Shown without departing from the spirit of my invention. Loosely engaging the shaft 9 are arms 14 which are in turn pivotally connected to the end members of my mold so as to swing in a Avertical plane about a horizontal axis.

It will be apparent from the above description that when the shaft 8 is oscillated by a suitable handle 15 or any other convenient means that the crank arm 9 moving about the axis of the shaftthrough the arms 14, moves the end members toward and from the axis of said shaft. This movement of the end members through the links 5, 5, causes a corresponding movement of the side members of the mold longitudinally of the shaft and the bearings 10, 10 for the shaft are of such construction as toslide freely lengthwise of the shaft. It will be noted that the length of the crank arin 9 and the length of the arms 14, 14 are so proportioned that when the end members are in their inner or closed position that said crank arms 14 are substantially in line or have just passed the dead center so that said parts are held normally in this position. A bracket 16, carried by the "end member is engaged by the arm 14 when in closed position and prevents the same from moving further below the horizontal osition of said arm. As a further means fdr locking the parts in closed position, 1 have provided the side members with a spring catch 17, 17 which engage the shaft and hold the same in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Q

1n the preferred form of my invention, 1 construct my side and end members of angle iron. Said angle iron is bent into a rectangular frame and has detachably secured thereto a face plate 18. ln the drawings l have shown small screws which pass through the face plate and nuts for engaging said screws and holding the face plate on the angle iron frame- 1t will be obvious however, that any other suitable means may be used instead of that shown. It will also be obvious that in certain aspects of my invention that any other form of frame may be substituted for that herein shown and described.

The face plate onl the end frame or member is the full size of said member and when the parts of the mold are in closed position7 said plate engages the end of the face plate on the side members as clearly shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings. 1n order-that said plates may be brought into close contact, 1 have provided the adjustable bearings for the shaft 3 above described. By adjusting the nut 12 on the threaded end of the bearl ing 10, the amount of inward movement of the end members may be adjusted. rFhis is an essential feature of my invention as it allows the end plate to be brought closely in contact with the side face plates, thus making a sharp and well defined outline in the' block made in my mold.

Instead of using a shaft having a deflected portion to form a crank, I may use a U shaped member 19 such as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Said U shaped member 19 is pivotally supported by a shaft 20, passing through bearings 21 carried by the end members. This U shaped member eX- tends beyond the shaft 2O andis pivotally connected at 21, 21 to the arms 22, which are in turn pivoted to the end members of my mold. Asmall lug 23 is rigidly secured to the end members and extends into the path of said U shaped member. When it is desired to open the mold a's shown in Fig. 6, the operator grasps the U shaped member which serves as a handle and by lifting on said member the same is turned about the shaft 20 as on aXis, causing the arms 22, to draw the end members outward and the links 5, 5

l to move the side members 3, 3 outward in a direction longitudinal of the shaft 20. When the mold is in its closed position as shown in the arms 22 are substantially in line so that said parts are locked, thus holding the members in closed position.

1n the operation of my device, the shaft 8 l the end and side members are brought in Figs. 6 and 7 the Ushaped member 19 and' l is turned by means of the handle 15, so that close contact, and then the mold is placed on j the follow board 1 so that the cores 2, 2 exi tend up into the central part of the mold.

j The material from which the block is formed is now placed in the mold around the cores 2, 2. 1t will be noted that the cores are of the same height as the moldso that the surplus material maybe easily removed from the top of the mold. A plain follow board is now placed on the top of the mold, and the whole device inverted. The cores 2 which are inserted from the lower side of the follow board 1 in openings 24, corresponding in shape with the cores, are then withdrawn by means of the handle 25, which folds into the recess 26 formed in the lower end of 4the cores. The shaft 8 is now turned by means of the handle 15, or by lifting on the U- shaped memberv 19, as shown in my modifled form and the side and end members thus Withdrawn from the finished block.

1t will be obvious that any one of the face plates may be removed, and others with different surface characteristics substituted therefor, thus changing the appearance of the nished block.

It will be obvious that many changes in l the minor details in the construction of my device, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus particularlydescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

2. A mold, having side and end members, each of said side members being connected to said end members by swingmg links, a crank shaft carried by said side members, arms connected to said crank shaft, and said end members, said crank shaft and said-arms being so located that the connection between the same lies substantially in a plane said arms and crank shaft in closed position.

1. A mold having side and end members,

3o-incident with the aXis of the crank shaft, and the point of connection between saidA arms vand said end members, when said mold is in closed position, whereby said mold is locked in position,means for holding said arms and crank shaft in closed position, and means for adjustably supporting said rock shaft on said side members.

3. A mold having side and end members, swinging links pivoted at their opposite ends to the side and end members respectively, a

4crank shaft carried by said side members and extending substantially parallel to said end members, arms pivoted to the end members and to said crank shaft, said crank shaft and said arms being so located that the connection between the same lies substantially in a plane co-incident with the axis of the ed to said crank shaft and to said end members, a bracket for supporting said arms and crank shaft when the mold is in closed position, said arms and crank shaft being so disposed as to hold the mold in closed position, and an auxiliary locking device for engagin and holding the crank shaft when supporte by said bracket.

5.`A mold including in combination side members and end members, face plates carried by said side and end members, said side members extending beyond said end members, and said face plates being so disposed that the end members contact with the ends of 'said face plates on the side members, links for connecting said end members andiside members, means for openin and closing said mold comprising a cran( shaft, arms pivotally connected to said end members and to the crank shaft, a bracket for supporting said arms and said crank shaft when the mold is in closed position, said 'arms and said crank shaft being so disposed as to locl' the mold when in closed position.

6. The combination with a mold having end and side members, means for openingl and closing the same, a follow board on which the mold may rest in either open or closed position, said follow board having openings therein, cores adapted to be inserted in and fitting said openings in said follow board with the lower ends of the cores substantially flush with the outer face of the follow board, said cores having recesses in their lower ends, and handles located in said recesses, whereby said cores may be withdrawn from said mold through the openings in the follow board.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature, inpresence of two witnesses.

GEO. B. BLODGETT. Witnesses H. C. DRAKE, GEO. D. Fos'rnn. 

